The Problem with Greater Goods

I don't often use the phrase, "the greater good." In fact, I don't much worry about greater and lesser goods, or figuring out which is which. I'm more interested in every good.

It's a classic form of moral thinking. Which of these two things are worth saving? In given dilemma, which virtue would you choose? Identifying the moral value of things is important, because when the shit hits the fan one might have to choose one thing over another.

I don't deny the fact that moral dilemmas occur. Sometimes one seems to be faced with a choice of evils; situations where every choice, even the choice to do nothing, is morally wrong. There are also positive moral dilemmas, occasions when only one positive opportunity can be pursued. When these happen, we have to make choices.

Despite this fact, I believe that a vast majority of problems can be solved creatively without need to violate any good, the greater or the lesser.

Ultimately, if something is priceless, there is no way to assess it's numeric worth. No price can be put on it's head. Because of this valuelessness, it makes no sense to trade, buy, or barter over such an item. Priceless things cannot properly participate in economies.

Now, most of us believe that a human's life is priceless. And most of us hold to the idea that no monetary value could or should ever be assigned to a person. We also generally think abdominal any economy that trades lives for money. Generally, we are against buying and selling human lives.

And yet, we are usually comfortable bartering human lives. Not that we think about it that way. But consider, when faced with a moral dilemma, a situation where the good of one person/group must be chosen over another person/group. Deciding that one is more valuable the other is to engage in a blind barter, trading lives based on ambiguous value, but going toward the one of greater value. Having chosen the thing of greater value, we feel justified in our choice.

I have real problems with this feeling of justification. Even if we are right, and chose the path of greater good over a lesser, a lesser good did not come to pass. Or, if we choose the lesser evil over the greater, we still did an evil. Such dilemmas are horrible situations that rob possibility and force wrong.

It should also be noted that pursuing greater goods often give people the notion that they can do all kinds of lesser evil. Bullshit. One cannot trade one good for another.

So kick the notion of the greater good. If at all possible, achieve all goods, every good, no matter how great or small. If limited by conditions and abilities, do the good you feel you must, but do not overly justify your choices. Admit to the wrongs that occurred, and find ways to heal what was broken.